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Former 400m world champion Antonio Pettigrew found dead
• Runner believed to have taken overdose of sleeping pills
• Pettigrew admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs
The former world 400m champion Antonio Pettigrew has been found dead in the backseat of his car in North Carolina. It is unknown if his death was accidental or whether he took his own life.
Major Gary Blankenship, of the Chatham County sheriff's office, said the car was locked and there was evidence that the 42-year-old had taken sleeping pills. "We don't know if was intentionally or accidental," said Blankenship. "We might not ever know."
Pettigrew's body has been taken for an autopsy but toxicology results are not expected back for at least four weeks. Blankenship said Pettigrew's wife had reported him missing from their home on Monday.
Pettigrew's employers, the University of North Carolina, had earlier released a statement confirming the news.
"Although we are still learning the circumstances, we are deeply saddened to learn of Antonio's death," said the school's athletic director, Dick Baddour.
"I was particularly impressed with the relationships he established with his student athletes and the pride he took in representing the university. Our deepest condolences go out to Antonio's family, particularly his wife and son."
The 42-year-old, who had worked at the university as an assistant athletics coach for four seasons, won the world title in 1991.
The sprinter also won a 4x400m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics but the relay team, including Michael Johnson, were stripped of their medals after Pettigrew admitted at the trial of the banned coach Trevor Graham that he had used performance-enhancing drugs from 1997 to 2003.
Pettigrew also voluntarily surrendered his 1997 and 1999 world championship 4x400m relay golds.
Former 400m world champion Antonio Pettigrew found dead
• Runner believed to have taken overdose of sleeping pills
• Pettigrew admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs
The former world 400m champion Antonio Pettigrew has been found dead in the backseat of his car in North Carolina. It is unknown if his death was accidental or whether he took his own life.
Major Gary Blankenship, of the Chatham County sheriff's office, said the car was locked and there was evidence that the 42-year-old had taken sleeping pills. "We don't know if was intentionally or accidental," said Blankenship. "We might not ever know."
Pettigrew's body has been taken for an autopsy but toxicology results are not expected back for at least four weeks. Blankenship said Pettigrew's wife had reported him missing from their home on Monday.
Pettigrew's employers, the University of North Carolina, had earlier released a statement confirming the news.
"Although we are still learning the circumstances, we are deeply saddened to learn of Antonio's death," said the school's athletic director, Dick Baddour.
"I was particularly impressed with the relationships he established with his student athletes and the pride he took in representing the university. Our deepest condolences go out to Antonio's family, particularly his wife and son."
The 42-year-old, who had worked at the university as an assistant athletics coach for four seasons, won the world title in 1991.
The sprinter also won a 4x400m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics but the relay team, including Michael Johnson, were stripped of their medals after Pettigrew admitted at the trial of the banned coach Trevor Graham that he had used performance-enhancing drugs from 1997 to 2003.
Pettigrew also voluntarily surrendered his 1997 and 1999 world championship 4x400m relay golds.
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